I was curious how they’d manage to condense two books into a single film, but unfortunately, the result felt far too rushed. My partner, who joined me to watch it, constantly felt like she’d missed a prior film or some crucial setup, which isn’t a good sign. The pacing just didn’t allow the story to breathe or for new viewers to fully grasp what was happening.

That said, the humour is still there, especially towards the end, but many jokes fell flat due to the lack of context that the books provided. Without the proper setup, some of the humour didn’t land as well as it could have.

The decision to cut several battles from the story also felt odd. It made some of the characters’ decisions feel abrupt and unearned, as the omitted events were crucial for providing necessary context.

One of the most disappointing omissions was the lack of focus on Neia Baraja. In the books, her thoughts and inner struggles are explored in great detail, making her journey from an inexperienced squire to a significant figure in the Holy Kingdom compelling and relatable. The film, however, glosses over her development, leaving her actions and decisions feeling strange and poorly explained. This lack of depth diminishes her character and weakens the overall story.

Ultimately, this should have been adapted as a full season rather than a film. With more time, the story, humour, and characters could have had the depth and impact they deserved. As it stands, it feels like a missed opportunity to do justice to the source material.